Assessment of Irrigated Wheat Production in Western Oromia, Ethiopia: The Case Constraints and Swot Analysis

Kifle Degefa, Hailu Feyisa and Adisu Tadese

Background and Objective: The population growth and changing food preferences in Ethiopia have resulted in an increasing demand for wheat which results in the expansion of irrigated wheat production to ensure food self-sufficiency. This expansion of irrigated wheat production for sustainability needs the identification of potential stakeholders with their roles and constraints. Besides, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis is also very important. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at Jimma, Bunno Bedelle and East Wollega Zones of Western Oromia. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews with farmers, experts and unions were used. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the collected data. Results: Further expansion constraints like unavailability of inputs with skyrocketing prices, poor irrigation schemes performance, biotic stresses, insufficient farmers’ skills and knowledge of the technologies, lack of financial sources, lack of local reliable market and shortage of modern schemes were identified as the major constraints to irrigated wheat production. The SWOT analysis has been done, showing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of irrigated wheat production. Conclusion: This new initiative knowledge should be useful through developing a regular input supply system, improving farmer’s skills and knowledge, credit access to farmers, developing modern schemes, developing new disease-resistant varieties and strengthening market linkage by experts, policymakers, researchers and seed enterprise for better orienting investments on irrigated wheat production.

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